Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
There is a regrettable pattern to the weather in recent weeks, such that it is always wet and windy on Sundays but fine on Mondays. It is some sort of conspiracy! This evening, Monday, the whole region seems hazy as a persistent wind has picked up a fair percentage of the Cook Strait, and left us with a salt laden atmosphere. It imparts a rosy tinge to the view as the evening sun goes down, but the price for the pretty colour is that wretched wind. The harbour has alternated throughout the week between green heaving seas, and flat blue mirror. On Saturday, there were several fleets of small yachts racing, their owners no doubt motivated by the Louis Vuitton Cup currently under way in Auckland. Another unexpected bonus from that event was the visit to Auckland of the Italian sail training ship, the Amerigo Vespucci, one of the largest and most impressive of them all.
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd. Any text above this point, and all subsequent material in parentheses, and concluded with the initials "BH" is the personal opinion of Brian Harmer as editor of this newsletter, or occasionally "HH" will indicate an opinion from Helen.
In all cases they are honest expressions of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact. This week's formatting is sponsored by Bruce Hamilton. Many thanks Bruce. On with the news:
A New Zealander feared dead after Saturday's Bali bombing has been confirmed as alive but injured. Until early this evening, Dean McDougall was thought to be among more than 180 killed in the terrorist attack. But a phone call has brought the best of news for Dean's parents Jim and Elaine McDougall, who say a doctor has phoned from Darwin Hospital to say Dean is fine, but has bad injuries to one leg. Elaine McDougall says she never doubted her son was alive. New Zealand Air Force Squadron Leader Mike Going was one of those injured in the Bali blast, and has been airlifted to Singapore for treatment. He has burns, but his condition is described as stable. At the time of the explosion, Mr Going was on leave from his duties in East Timor, where he is a UN Military Observer.
K-Mart has been fined $5,000 plus costs for breaching the Fair Trading Act over the sale of an unsafe bicycle. Coles Myer NZ Holdings Ltd, trading as K-Mart New Zealand, appeared in the Auckland District Court followed a customer complaint to the Commerce Commission relating to a "Huffy Kaibab" men's pedal bicycle. This is the second time the company has appeared in Court for failing to comply with bicycle safety standard regulations. In this case, the bicycle's left pedal crank arm had become loose and fallen off within minutes of being used. As a result of this complaint, the Commission purchased another bicycle of the same type and had it tested for compliance with the bicycle safety standard regulations. During a one-kilometre test ride, the same left pedal crank arm of the bicycle also became loose. Commerce Commission Director of Fair Trading Deborah Battell says the Commission has had a number of complaints about bicycles. She says all retailers should remember that they are responsible for ensuring their bicycles comply with the safety standard regulations. In 1996, K-Mart was fined $25,000 in the Auckland District Court on three charges of selling dangerous bicycles.
(Any good text on cycling warns against buying a bike from anyone whose primary occupation is not the selling and setting up of bikes. A badly set up bike is a menace to life and limb. I must get out on mine soon. - BH)
Strategic analyst and Indonesian affairs expert Kerry Collison believes one of two militant Muslim groups is responsible. He believes the timing and precision of the bomb blasts suggests the Indonesian military may also have been involved. Mr Collison says the west has been ignoring warning signs in Indonesia and things are likely to get very bloody in the future. He says this was an attack against a western nightclub which will gain the perpetrators enormous kudos among other militants, and will help them raise funds and more support. Kerry Collison says by targeting tourists the terrorists knew they would get maximum publicity.
There have been tearful scenes as traumatised New Zealanders returned home from Bali. Our reporter at Auckland International Airport says the handful of survivors who flew in from Sydney had obviously been through a terrible ordeal. They fell into the waiting arms of relatives, tears streaming down their faces while they told of the horrors they had witnessed. They were also critical of Balinese authorities, saying officials were slow to react to the bombing and deliver medical aid to the casualties. There has still been no official confirmation that one New Zealander has been killed in Bali. Another 312 kiwis are still unaccounted for. Prime Minister Helen Clark is hopeful most of those will be found safe in other parts of Bali but she holds grave fears for three. Helen Clark says no-one seems to have any idea where they may be. Meanwhile 220 Australians are still missing, and Australian PM John Howard has warned his nation to expect the worse.
The Health Minister may have bought herself a fight with her decision to block the filming of a birth at Waikato Hospital for use in a porn movie. After receiving legal advice, Annette King today told the District Health Board that they were not to allow the filming to continue. The Board had signed an agreement with Vixen Direct to allow the filming of Nikki giving birth as long as there were no shots of the baby as the High Court had ordered. Vixen Direct owner Steve Crow says they will now look at home birth options to allow production to continue. But he says if Nikki has to give birth in hospital and they cannot film, he will seek recourse against those who do not want them to go ahead.
(Whereas the law may not make the film illegal, I hope that the minister and the health board concerned do not cave in or interpret that as a compulsion to tolerate this rubbish in the enclosed premises of a hospital - BH)
ANZ Bank workers are considering a new offer from their employer. Nearly 2000 of the bank's staff have been holding a series of stop work meetings to discuss their latest offer. A pay increase of around three percent was rejected last week. The new offer will go to the vote through a postal ballot with the result expected at the end of the month.
312 Kiwis Still Not Accounted For
The Prime Minister says everything possible is being done to track down New Zealanders in Bali. Five hundred and 50 kiwis have so far been accounted for, while 312 have not made contact with friends and family back home. Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff says 11 New Zealanders have so far been reported injured, while it is unclear whether a kiwi is among the 187 confirmed fatalities. The Government is sending a Hercules and a seven-strong medical team to Bali tonight to help with rescue efforts. Prime Minister Helen Clark says every effort is being made to track down New Zealanders who are believed to have been in the Kuta Beach area at the time of the attack. She says New Zealanders should not travel to Bali at the moment, and those already over there should leave. She says she spoke to her Australian counterpart John Howard last night, to convey our sadness at the number of casualty's Australia's been hit with. Helen Clark says she has also made contact with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, giving our sympathy. New Zealand's representative in Bali says it has been extremely difficult to find out how many New Zealanders were injured in yesterday's bomb blasts. Nigel Allardyce says most if not all foreigners injured in the explosion have now been evacuated. He says New Zealanders with private insurance have been taken to Singapore while others have been taken to Darwin by the Australian military. Mr Allardyce says it is also hard to ascertain the overall death toll, with the figure of 182 being used locally. He says ex-pats and locals are doing a remarkable volunteer job helping at the hospitals. As Indonesian authorities investigate who may have been responsible for the attack, an exodus of tourists is underway. Hundreds have already fled, while many more are at Bali's international airport trying to get out. Bali streets normally bustling with foreigners have been left near deserted. The remaining tourists are keeping to their hotel rooms or heading to the apparent safety of Kuta Beach. Local hospitals are struggling under the massive workload, with many injured being treated in corridors. The dead are being housed in a make-shift morgue, packed on ice. Meanwhile, Australians are being told to brace themselves. Their official death toll from the Bali bomb attack is 15. However there are grave fears for the bulk of the 220 Australians still unaccounted for and Prime Minister John Howard is priming his nation to expect the worst. Hundreds of terrified Australians have started to arrive in Sydney greeted by concerned family and friends. Six evacuation flights from Bali have brought home more than 1300 tourists. Sixty of them were suffering injuries, mainly burns cuts and abrasions. The injured were treated by ambulance officers upon arrival, or transferred to hospitals across Sydney. Australian police have been questioning arrivals, trying to help Indonesian authorities investigating the attack. Another two evacuation flights are due to arrive in Sydney, later tonight. Australia's Prime Minister says his people will react to the bombing in Bali with anger and outrage. John Howard has spoken with American President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Both expressed sympathy, and offered their help in tracking down those responsible for the attack. An FBI team is already on its way to Bali to help with the investigation. Mr Howard has since convened an emergency meeting of Australia's National Security Committee. He says Australia will be unrelenting in its pursuit of the terrorists. John Howard says the response will be sensible, but with a deep sense of anger and outrage. He says to attack innocent civilians is unforgivable and evil. Meanwhile anyone stranded in Bali hoping to rely on their travel insurance in flat out of luck. The events of September 11 spelt an end to any cover for people caught up in terrorist attacks. Tower Insurance general manager, Colin Taylor says the international reinsurance community withdrew terrorism cover globally.
Freak weather has hit Tauranga this afternoon. Waterspouts and a small tornado were sighted in Maungatapu and Welcome Bay, spawned by a thunderstorm that also brought hail to the Tauranga area. Mike Maynard's house overlooks Selwyn Ridge Primary school and says he had just sat down for a bite of lunch when he saw the mini-twister sweep past. He says the twister did not cause any real damage, but it did throw debris several hundred feet into the air before fading away.
Tributes are flowing for Invercargill-born Sir Garfield Todd, who died yesterday in his adopted country of Zimbabwe at the age of 94. Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff describes Sir Garfield as a remarkable and courageous citizen who spent his life championing black rights and was willing to be imprisoned defending those principles. Mr Goff says he reminded Sir Garfield many times he was welcome to return to New Zealand and his decision to stay in Zimbabwe to take on Robert Mugabe is a testament to his courage and integrity.
The Government is stepping in to stop the filming of a birth for a pornographic movie. A High Court decision in Hamilton last week allows former stripper Nikki to be filmed giving birth, as long as the baby is not shown. Waikato Hospital was originally against the move, but will now allow filming under certain conditions. National, New Zealand First and the Greens have called for Health Minister Annette King to intervene. Mrs King today ordered an urgent legal report into what steps the Government can take. She says from the preliminary report she has received, the Waikato District Health Board will be told not to allow the filming. Mrs King says she is satisfied the legal opinion she has received justifies denying the use of public facilities for such a film.
(Good! - BH)
A British firm has bought into an Ashburton privately owned grain and seed company. UK-based Germinal Holdings Limited has acquired a 20% interest in Peter Cates Ltd. The managing director of Peter Cates Ltd, Brian Wilson, says the agreement will give them access to higher technology as well as added business opportunities for the companyıs grower clients. He says the financial strength, larger business expertise, and international market access coming from Germinal's 170 years of trading will be extremely positive. Peter Cates Ltd was established in 1973 and has its headquarters in Ashburton, the centre of New Zealandıs grain and small seed producing heartland. They service farmers throughout Mid and North Canterbury. Germinal Holdings has been working with Peter Cates for several years and expect the investment in the company to cement relationships. The British firm hopes the deal with give it better access to Southern Hemisphere markets and while Peter Cates will gain access to IGER varieties. Germinal Holdings has the exclusive world rights for all new varieties of grass and clovers produced by IGER, the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research.
Nearly two hundred New Zealanders in Bali are unaccounted for following the terrorist attack in Kuta according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It says its call centre has received confirmation that 450 New Zealanders on the island resort are safe and well. One hundred and 95 remain unaccounted for. That figure includes people known to be in Bali at the time who have not been heard from yet. Eight New Zealanders are in hospital - one is being airlifted out to Singapore, while others are likely to be evacuated on Australian air force Hercules. The planes are now running an air bridge between Bali and the Australian mainland, taking the badly injured to Darwin or Perth. One badly injured survivor died on the first flight into Darwin. There is still no confirmation of the one suspected Kiwi death. The freephone number for relatives and friends to call with details on loved ones is 0800 432 111. Meanwhile the Australian Prime Minister has urged Indonesia to allow other nations to become involved in the quest to stamp out terrorism. John Howard says Canberra is willing to offer intelligence and other assistance. Australia has borne the brunt of the tragedy. Latest figures have 13 Australians confirmed dead, 110 injured, and 220 unaccounted for. Relatives and friends of the missing are scouring Bali's hospitals hoping for any trace of their loved ones. While some have discovered the wounded being treated in hospital corridors, many have had their worst fears confirmed. Hospital walls are reported to be covered with the names of the dead and injured, with new names are constantly being added. Indonesian authorities expect the death toll to rise even further, with hospitals stretched to the limit. Australian diplomats in New Zealand are honouring those killed in the Bali attack. The Australian High Commission in Wellington has just announced it is flying its flags at half mast. Meanwhile National says the Government needs to show strong support for our allies in the fight against terrorism. Foreign Affairs spokesman Wayne Mapp says the bombing in Bali has brought back vivid memories of September 11. He says New Zealand needs to endorse the efforts of the war on terror to fight of the threats of terror which are moving closer to this country. Mr Mapp says Parliament's passing of the new terrorism laws last week was very timely. New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has described the bombings in Bali as a planned attack on Western society and has demanded the Government tighten this country's border controls. He says the horrific carnage brought about by the bombings showed that those involved were fanatics with absolutely no consideration for humanity even when it included people of their own religious persuasion. Meanwhile the United States Government is sending a team of FBI agents to Bali to help with the investigation into the blast. President George W. Bush has condemned the attack as "a cowardly act. "He says we should call this despicable act by its rightful name - murder.
If there is a complaint about New Zealanders - it is that they do not complain enough. A service training specialist says people need to complain more if they want better customer service. KiwiHost Canterbury, a customer service training organisation working in the hospitality sector, says more service providers need to encourage and welcome complaints. Manager, Chris Bell says his company's research shows that just five per cent of domestic consumers bother to complain to service providers. However, the research shows that each unsatisfied consumer tells on average up to 12 friends or colleagues about a bad experience. He says people do not complain because of a lack of confidence and a failure to understand the importance of complaints. Mr Bell says the low level of complaints makes it hard to achieve improvements in service standards in industry sectors such as retail, tourism and banking. He says that means service providers have no information on which to improve the way they operate. Mr Bell points out that many service providers do not know how to handle complaints constructively and have poor response procedures. And he says some are downright rude and actively undermine the complaints process. He says businesses should make it a priority for staff to handle complaints professionally and use the feedback to raise their performance.
(Hmmm ... I could name a few who do more than their share - BH)
One of National Radio's best known voices is moving on. Radio New Zealand Political Editor, Al Morrison, is leaving radio. He will become General Manager, External Relations, with the Department of Conservation. Mr Morrison's final political commentary will be with Linda Clark on the Nine to Noon programme this Friday. Radio New Zealand Chief Executive, Sharon Crosbie, says Al Morrison had a real gift for making sense of politics. She says the organisation is sorry to lose him, but understands his need to seek new challenges in the area of general management. Al Morrison has been political editor for five years, and says it is now time to stand aside and let someone else have a go. Radio New Zealand says it will make an announcement on the appointment of a new political editor in due course.
(I am sorry to see him go. I regarded Al Morrison as a balanced and authoritative voice - BH)
A toxic algal bloom is being blamed for thousands of dead fish littering beaches at Orewa north of Auckland. More than 9,000 dead fish, including flounders and eels, were found at Orewa, Hatfields and Red Beach over the weekend. People are being warned not to collect fish or shellfish, or swim at the beaches. Dead fish have been sent to NIWA's Wellington lab for analysis. Rodney District Council and Auckland Health workers have spent the past two days cleaning up the beaches.
Southern Cross Medical Care will review the premium adjustment that was put in place earlier this year. A resolution was put to the society's AGM in Auckland yesterday, requiring Southern Cross to reconsider the change. The resolution was passed. It said that the move away from community rating and cross-subsidies was unfair, especially to long-standing members. Southern Cross says the nature of the review is yet to be determined, and in the meantime current premiums will stand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released the name of a New Zealander, confirmed killed in the Bali bomb attack. He was 27-year-old Mark Morton Parker from Timaru. Two other New Zealanders are feared to be among the 180 people who were killed in the attack. New Zealand itself could become the venue for a terrorist attack and is just as much a potential target as Australia, according to a defence analyst. Dr David Dickens says New Zealand fits the target criteria which has been issued by the Taliban and al Qaeda. He says potential targets include any country who took part in the campaign in Afghanistan or anyone who has had military forces of any kind in the Gulf. In addition, David Dickens says New Zealand is a Western nation and has American and Israeli interests. Dr Dickens says the American Embassy in Kenya was attacked by al Qaeda, even though the terrorist group had no particular gripe with Kenya. He says New Zealand should revisit its defence policy because of several weaknesses, including the control of air space, airport security, and some aspects of our intelligence and police.
New Zealand's Air Force Hercules, called into action in the wake of the Bali bombing, has had a minor set-back. The plane was flying a team of federal police to Bali today, when crew noticed a crack in the windscreen. Defence Force spokeswoman, Major Jules Lovelock says the plane was forced to turn back to Darwin, and the Federal police who were aboard the flight have now been ferried to Bali aboard another aircraft. The Hercules has been assessed as being OK to fly, but the crew had exceeded their hours, and they are now resting and will be assigned a new tasking at 11 o'clock tonight. Major Lovelock says exactly what that task is will be determined by the Australian Defence Force.
(The state of even what we have seems to embarrass us. The 727s seem well passed their use-by date. I guess a windscreen panel can delaminate on any aircraft, but why to this aircraft on this flight? - BH)
Two people have been arrested after a probe into a possible people smuggling racket. The men, aged 21 and 22, are Dutch nationals. They were arrested in Wellington this afternoon. It follows an Immigration Service investigation into allegations of fraudulent refugee claims lodged in Christchurch last year. The Service says its investigation into the activities of the two men is continuing.
Authorities acknowledge it could take weeks to identify all those killed in the Bali terrorist attack. New Zealand diplomats are currently doing the rounds of the morgues trying to find two kiwis they fear perished in Saturday's explosion. The task of identifying bodies is grisly, with little refrigeration available for the corpses and many of them charred beyond recognition. Two New Zealand men are thought to have been near the Sari Club when the bomb went off. One of their names has appeared on a hospital white board list of the deceased. The body of a third New Zealand man has been unofficially identified by a friend. His family are on their way to Bali. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade hopes to have a better idea by tonight how many New Zealanders are still unaccounted for in Bali. Spokesman Brad Tattersfield says they have had reports of around 500 people who are believed to be in Bali and have not made contact with home. He says MFAT does not believe there is anything like that number of casualties, and says it is just a case of going back and checking that people have been located. However Brad Tattersfield says MFAT cannot rule out the possibility there are other New Zealanders among the unidentified dead. Meanwhile a New Zealand man evacuated to Perth following the Bali terrorist attacks is being hailed as a hero. Andrew Stanaway and his wife were in the Sari Club in Kuta at the time of the explosion and have told staff at the Royal Perth Hospital that their escape is a miracle. Mr Stanaway is in a stable condition with a relatively low level of burns and his wife is unhurt. Details are sketchy at this stage, but it appears Mr Stanaway may have risked his life by pulling injured people from the burning nightclub. Parliament has observed a minute's silence for the victims of the Bali bombing. Prime Minister Helen Clark led off statements from leaders of all the political parties who have roundly condemned the attack. She won unanimous support for a motion expressing condemnation of the cold-blooded and indiscriminate bombing. The House has also expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. The leaders of National and ACT, Bill English and Richard Prebble have both warned that New Zealand is no longer immune to acts of terrorism. Mr Prebble has urged the government to strengthen relations with our closest ally, Australia.
Frustration for thousands of shoppers today, with the complete breakdown of the EFTPOS system throughout the country. Human error is to blame for the failure, which put an end to electronic transactions early this afternoon for about an hour and a half between 1pm and 2. 30pm this afternoon. EFTPOS Business Development Manager Darryl Roots says it was an operational error at its processing centre. He says it took another hour to clear the backlog once the system was back up and running. An inquiry is underway by EFTPOS to try to prevent a recurrence of the fault.
New Zealand's youth suicide rate is dropping. Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton says latest figures show the rate is the lowest since 1986 for both the number and rate of suicides among young people. He says in 1998, 140 young people took their own lives and in 1999, that was down to 120. Jim Anderton says latest figures for 2000, show 96 young people killed themselves. He says unfortunately, the suicide rate for young males remains at the 1999 level.
Members of the official party travelling on the RNZAF 727 to El Alamein commemorations in Egypt were taking bets on how long before it broke down, when it did just that. The plane is grounded at Brisbane, its first re-fuelling stop. It is believed oil is leaking into one of the engines. IRN Political Editor Barry Soper is among those now waiting for repairs. He says the 727 is 30-years-old and well known for its breakdowns. The airforce hopes to be able to repair the plane in Brisbane, but if that proves impossible it will have to fly in a part from Auckland.
(Ay yi yi! I seem to remember reading that this was an aircraft bought at the end of its life with United Airlines! - BH)
The New Zealand Electricity Market launches a trial of real-time pricing today. The new system will mean a wholesale electricity price is calculated and published every five-minutes. NZEM Chairman Toby Stevenson says real- time pricing is regarded by many as an important evolution of New Zealand's electricity market, as it offers purchasers the opportunity to participate more effectively in the wholesale price discovery process. Customers will be provided with almost constant information on the electricity price, which they can use to make consumption or production decisions. The Minister of Energy, Pete Hodgson says he is heartened by the NZEM's progress in this area.
New Zealand investors still prefer bonds as they seek a safe haven from global equities, even though future returns are declining. New Zealand's largest fund manager, AMP Henderson Global Investors' annual fixed interest returns were 9. 6% globally and 7. 7% locally. September quarter returns of 3. 7% and 4% respectively, contributed strongly to this result. Property also returned a steady 8% for the year. AMP Henderson Chief Investment Officer Chris Wozniak says bonds provide a lot of appeal currently, because of their relatively low risk. He says, however, it is important to consider that global bond yields are now down to 40 year lows. He says while New Zealand bonds continue to provide appeal, the organisation has some concerns about the returns being sustained in the future. Mr Wozniak says the continuing decline in global equities has been driven by a lack of investor confidence as well as softer earnings. The drop in confidence is being blamed on continuing negative corporate news, a lack of clear evidence of a strengthening global economy and the possibility of war with Iraq. Mr Wozniak says September equity returns were the worst he has seen for some time, although New Zealand fared quite well compared to global markets, with the NZSE40 Index falling only 2. 5% compared to a global MSCI fall of 15. 5% for the quarter. His advice to investors is to ensure they have well-diversified portfolios, as the currently struggling asset classes will pick up again eventually.
Fonterra says it welcomes the Serious Fraud Office probe into the so-called Powdergate affair. Chairman Henry van der Heyden hopes it will settle the matter once and for all. MAF began investigating possible breaches of export legislation a year ago, after it was alleged the Dairy Board had been involved in illegal exporting. It was found that milk powder worth $50 million had been exported without the proper licences under the Dairy Board Act. The alleged irregularities concern exports by Tauranga company S.P.D. Limited over a number of years. S.P.D. had trading links with the Australian firm, Cottee Dairy products. Cottee was in turn was part owned by a subsidiary of Kiwi Co-Op which merged with New Zealand Dairy Group to form Fonterra. Earlier this year, Fonterra announced that Cottee, along with the firm which took over its trading operations, Australasian Dairy Ingredients, would both close.
Police bosses are hoping problems experienced by two officers at the Greymouth Police Station have been eradicated. ACT MP Ken Shirley claimed two long-serving Greymouth police officers had been victims of serious harassment by their colleagues. Today it has been thrown out by a police investigating team. Deputy Commissioner Steve Long says the inquiry followed around 30 complaints laid by Mr Shirley, but all were proved to be unfounded. Mr Long says while the two Greymouth constables were not victims of harassment, it was appropriate for an investigation to be held. He says the inquiry found that there was a relationship breakdown between the two constables and their colleagues; however the two officers have since been transferred.
Shipping company P&O Nedlloyd has announced a major upgrade to its New Zealand - South East Asia service to take place early next year. The upgrade of the present fixed-day, weekly South East Asia service will see three of the existing vessels in the service replaced with newer, faster and larger vessels to cater for growth in export cargoes carried by the service. The announcement follows P&O Nedlloyd's recent confirmation of New Zealand port calls for the two new round-the-world services being phased in later this year. The South East Asia service will see weekly calls continuing to be made at Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. The managing director of P&O Nedlloyd in New Zealand, Tony Gibson, says the upgrade will provide better opportunities and a higher service level for New Zealand exporters and importers trading with the region. Mr Gibson says the South East Asia service is also complimentary to the P & O's recently announced Eastabout direct service between New Zealand and Europe and the East Coast of North America. He says exporters in Christchurch will be able to connect with the giant Eastabout vessels at Port Chalmers by transferring cargo to the weekly South East Asia vessels when they call at Lyttelton. Lyttelton failed in its bid to become one of the ports of call for the Eastabout service, amid wrangles over pay and conditions with port unions.
Food prices rose 0.2 percent in September 2002. Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that price increases were recorded for fresh fruit and vegetables and grocery foods. Partly offsetting the rises were lower prices for poultry. Fruit and vegetable prices rose 1.9 percent in September, which was the most significant increase to the overall change in food prices. The rise follows increases of 0.7 percent in August and 4.6 percent in July. After adjusting for normal change, broccoli increased in price by 29.4 percent and potatoes by 7.7 percent. Kiwifruit dropped in price by 12.1 percent and mandarins were 12.4 percent cheaper. Grocery food, soft drink and confectionery prices rose by 0.1 percent in September. Potato crisps cost 6.5 percent more, nuts 5.9 percent and margarine were 5.1 percent higher. The most significant decrease was in milk prices (down 3.4 percent). Restaurant meals and ready-to- eat prices showed no change. Meat, fish and poultry prices decreased 0.6 percent in September, following a 0.6 percent decrease in August 2002. Poultry prices were down 5.6 percent an have fallen 11.5 percent in the past five months. Partly offsetting the fall in September were a 1.1 percent increase in beef and a 2.7 percent increase in pork. Over the last year, food prices overall have risen 1.4 percent.
A new multi-million dollar grocery warehouse is being upgraded in South Auckland. More than 200 people are working on expanding the Progressive Enterprises' distribution centre in Mangere. The upgrade is costing more than $23 million. It will turn the existing site, on Favona Road, into a warehouse that can hold enough groceries to supply 90 supermarkets. The development follows the merger of Progressive with Woolworths. About 230 staff will be employed at the enlarged centre once it opens next July.
Ten staff at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority are now earning salaries of more than $120,000. Figures released by Education Minister Trevor Mallard show the number of staff at NZQA has doubled in the past two years. The figures show that of the 238 staff, ten are now earning more than $120,000, with the top earner making up to $170,000. National's tertiary education spokesman Simon Power says the high salaries should reflect successes in the education system. But he claims that has been lacking and he is accusing executives of failing to sort out the NCEA system which he says is wreaking havoc in New Zealand secondary schools.
Greens co-leader, Rod Donald, has again hit out at the overseas investment of the Government Superannuation Fund. The fund manages the superannuation assets of the country's public servants. It has reported an after-tax loss of $76 million. In the eight months to June, the fund saw the value of its overseas investments drop $242 million. Mr Donald says there needs to be a change in the way the fund invests its money, and it must now look at reinvesting in New Zealand.
There could be less hanging around for business travellers whose meetings run late. Air New Zealand has revealed details of its new Express Class service to be launched next month. It says higher, but more flexible fares will see companies save $40 million on domestic flights. Business travellers will be able to combine different fare types, instead of using inflexible return tickets. Express Class passengers will also be text messaged to warn of flight delays.
One of Australia's best known brands is to make an appearance in New Zealand. Auckland's three biggest hardware stores - all branches of Hardware House - have been bought by the parent company of the Australian chain Bunnings. The company, Wesfarmers, has acquired both Hardware House and 32 Benchmark stores around the country. Bunnings, with its distinctive red and green livery, is the largest home improvement retailer in Australia, with an annual turnover of more than $3. 5 billion. The re-branding of the Auckland stores will be followed by the opening of two new super stores in Hamilton and Christchurch. as part of a $35 million first stage investment. Deputy Managing Director Peter Davis says there is plenty of room for the market to grow in New Zealand as average household expenditure on D-I-Y is less here than it is in Australia.
The government will not reveal the details of the disturbing new threats that have led to fresh warnings for tourists to stay away from Indonesia. Foreign Minister Phil Goff says all he can say is that it involves terrorists threats. He says that was the wording of the warning given by the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer. Mr Downer declined to give the details of that publicly because it involves operational material from the security forces and Mr Goff says he has the same constraints on him. Meanwhile Australia's Prime Minister has renewed his pledge to track down those responsible for the Bali terrorist attack. John Howard is in Bali where he toured the bomb site this morning, laying a wreath of Australian wild flowers at the scene. Mr Howard urged Australians to pay heed to the warning issued by Mr Downer. Back home, New Zealanders worried about terrorism are being urged to balance vigilance with the need to get on with life. Assistant Police Commissioner John White has told a gathering at Auckland's Viaduct Basin today that there is no specific threat against the America's Cup and no heightened alert. However he says police are in daily contact with syndicates and some have beefed up their security. Assistant Commissioner White says police are also in close contact with intelligence sources around the world and are in a position to move quickly if need be. The Indonesian government says it is now closer to introducing an anti-terrorism decree. Police will have wider powers, and people found guilty of taking part in terrorism would face the death penalty.
Genesis Power has announced an after tax profit of more than $48 million. That is $7 million more than budgeted, but more than $11 million less than last year's profit of NZ$59.9 million. Genesis is a State Owned Enterprise and one of the country's largest electricity generators and retailers. The Government's other power SOEs have also released their profit figures for the past financial year. All showed a profit, though only Transpower showed an increase over the previous year's figures. Transpower - the country's national grid operator - showed a profit of $80. 2 million, up 0.6 percent on last year. Mighty River Power posted a profit of $47.1 million, down 20 percent on last year. Meridian Energy's figures are down even more, dropping 33 percent on a year ago with a reported profit of $84 million.
The Government is fuming over Ross Armstrong's involvement in the formulation of policy around public and private sector partnerships. Pacific Road New Zealand is urging companies to join an informal ministerial team which includes the TVNZ chairman. They claim they have the inside running on big joint projects. But Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen denies the group's claims saying the Government does not play favourites. He says the Government has never given Ross Armstrong any indication he would receive preferential treatment. Dr Cullen says it is totally inappropriate for the claims to be made that the group had the inside running. He says he has advised Dr Armstrong that the Government will have no further dealings with him in regards to the formulation of policy around Public Private Partnerships.
(Dr Armstrong resigned his posts tonight, Monday. - BH)
They are brainier, they have more faith and lots of them live in Auckland. They are the country's immigrant population. One in five New Zealanders were born overseas, a third of them coming from the UK and Ireland, and a quarter of them born in Oceania. Statistics New Zealand's latest snapshot survey from the last census reveals that more than 81 percent of them have educational qualifications, compared with just under 70 percent of NZ- born people. They are nearly twice as likely to have a university degree. The overseas-born New Zealanders are also less likely to have no religious faith, with only a fifth of them saying they had 'no religion;. compared with a third of those born here. Around half of the overseas population live in Auckland, and only seven percent live in rural areas.
Primary teachers have voted to accept the Government's offer of a pay rise, but with reservations. The three to eight percent raise comes not long after secondary teachers settled their industrial dispute. Primary teachers are guaranteed pay parity with secondary school teachers in their collective contract. Union President Amanda Coulston says there remains the contentious issue of non-degree qualifications. The Education Ministry has stopped recognising non-degree qualifications as equivalent to a degree. Meanwhile there has been no immediate response from the Ministry to a request to go back to arbitration over an outstanding part of the secondary teachers pay dispute on the same issue. Teachers without degrees, known as G3 equivalents, are still awaiting a new pay structure. The Post Primary Teachers Association and the Ministry have been negotiating over G3 teachers for weeks but the PPTA now wants the independent arbitration panel urgently reconvened. It says the ministry wants to change the rules on assessing them. It sees as a delaying tactic a ministry request to G3s for copies of their qualifications. The ministry says it is considering its response.
The Opposition does not accept government assurances that no one is getting the inside running on joint public- private projects like roads. A group called Pacific Road New Zealand is urging companies to join an informal ministerial team which includes TVNZ chairman Ross Armstrong and former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating. They claim to have the inside track on big joint projects. The claim has denied by acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen. Acting National leader Roger Sowry claims Dr Armstrong is a favourite of the Prime Minister and is concerned at the thought of him being involved in commercial deals flowing from partnerships. Mr Sowry actually supports the concept but not the way the government is going about it. He says it needs to be an open and transparent exercise.
The Prime Minister's office is not ruling out a one-on-one meeting between Helen Clark and US President, George W Bush at next week's APEC leaders meeting in Mexico. Miss Clark is scheduled for bilateral talks with a range of leaders, including Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. However, at this stage, there is no set schedule for a meeting between the Prime Minister and President Bush. But a spokesman from Helen Clark's office says it is possible the schedule may allow time for the Prime Minister to speak one-on-one with the US President. The United States recently indicated that New Zealand's anti-nuclear legislation would be a stumbling block to any future free trade agreement between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff has expressed his concern at the revelation North Korea might have nuclear weapons. A US official says the communist state may have two plutonium based bombs. Mr Goff says North Korea has signed an agreement to freeze the production of nuclear weapons. He says now the North Koreans have acknowledged they have breached the United Nations agreement, action needs to be taken. He says the country needs to be taken to the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, Centre for Strategic Studies head Peter Cozens says it is not clear yet who in North Korea passed the information on to the US official.
Social workers say they are being unfairly targeted by Deborah Coddington. The Act MP is threatening to use parliamentary privilege to reveal the names of social workers she claims are trying to place two children with a man who is a convicted sex offender. Social Workers Association Executive Officer Howard Randal says Ms Coddington is abusing her privilege. By raising the matter in Parliament, he says the MP has taken it into an arena where others have no access or right of rebuttal.
If you are busy saving Air Points for your big O. E. - then you may have to think again. Air New Zealand has re- jigged its reward scheme - and one way travel has been dropped from it. The airline cites low demand for using air points for one-way tickets as the reason for phasing it out. A spokeswoman says keeping the facility adds another "layer of complexity" to the scheme. The change affects both international and domestic one way travel on New Zealand's national carrier. In future redeeming air points for a one way ticket will mean using double the number of points. In other words, passengers will be charged the same as for a return journey.
New Zealand's financial markets appear to have taken the Bali bombing in their stride. ASB Securities sharebroker Steven Wright says the markets have hardly blinked in the wake of the terrorist attack which has left more than 180 people dead, including three from this country. New Zealanders in Bali are now being told to leave the country as soon as possible following new, unspecified threats. Meanwhile there are growing fears in Australia of a backlash against that country's Muslim community. Around two percent of the population in Australia is Muslim. Already there have been isolated incidents of vandalism against mosques and private homes. There have been calls for further police patrols around mosques and other potential targets.
International credit rating agency Standard and Poors has reaffirmed New Zealand's double A-plus grading. Spokesman Ping Chew says New Zealand's rating is supported by stable economic policies, a healthy fiscal position and a resilient, competitive economy. However Mr Chew, says New Zealand's rating is constrained by external debt which reflects persistently high current account deficits of between three to five percent of GDP, and our low 18 percent savings rate.
A new 0800 helpline for people affected by leaky buildings launched yesterday afternoon has already received 87 calls. It has been set up to enable those affected to register their claims. A website has also been established for those wishing to register on-line. The registrations are subject to a rigorous screening process, to make sure only genuine cases are dealt with. The number is 0800 116 926 and the website is at www.weathertightness.govt.nz
Plans are already underway to introduce Microsoft's new portable PC phone to New Zealand, following its launch in Australia this week. Microsoft's chief executive, Steve Ballmer says the new O2 xda+ is designed to increase efficiency. He says workers are not always at desks or even near a power outlet, and the new device gives them access to the world wide web without any extra equipment. It is the first integrated pocket PC and mobile phone to be launched in Australia and New Zealand, giving workers a tool which Steve Ballmer claims empowers knowledge workers in a wide variety of ways. He says the device is designed to give a user access to a broad range of information, which can be via the internet, or on another computer, or on a private network such as might be run by individual businesses. The PC phone comes with a full set of software, including Microsoft's Word, Excel and Internet Explorer programs. It also gives users access to audio and video files on the web. Telstra Group Managing Director Ted Pretty says the PC Phone service will also be rolled out in New Zealand, using its already-established partnership with mobile operator Vodafone. He says Telstra intends to vigorously compete in the New Zealand market. He says there is a natural market-share which can be obtained, and there is no difference between the productivity aspirations of New Zealanders compared to Australians.
Greenpeace is accusing the Government of moving too slowly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A raft of policies has been announced as New Zealand moves to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Key policies include a tax on carbon emissions and the preservation of forests which absorb carbon gases. But Greenpeace spokesman Robbie Kelman says delaying the carbon tax till 2007 is moving too slowly. He claims that, after two elections, it is debatable whether Labour will actually be in power to implement the tax. At present, he says there are no policies which encourage an immediate investment in renewable energy. Instead, he says coal is set to make a comeback when Maui gas runs out. Mr Kelman believes the ideal energy source for New Zealand is wind turbines.
Date: 17 October 2002 Brian Dooley Wellington New Zealand CURRENCIES The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm. The rates given are for telegraphic transfer. To Buy NZD 1.00 USD 0.4853 AUD 0.8808 GBP 0.3121 JPY 60.56 CAD 0.7689 EUR 0.4956 HKD 3.7942 SGD 0.8713 ZAR 5.0626 CHF 0.7275 INTEREST RATES (%) Call : 5.75 90 Day: 5.89
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